Cowboys Sweep McMurry For First Time Since 1992-93

Jan. 21, 2008

ABILENE, Texas - For the first time since the 1992-93 season, Hardin-Simmons' men's basketball team swept crosstown rival McMurry in the season series as HSU held on for a 78-75 win in double overtime, Monday night in American Southwest Conference action in Abilene.

The Cowboys, who led for most of the game, led 57-47 with 3:52 to play, but McMurry went on a quick 8-0 run to cut it to 51-49 at the 2:13 mark of regulation. Marcus Smith and Mardochee Jean of HSU and Robert Moreno of McMurry each split pairs of free throws and it was a 53-50 game with :50 to play.

Casey Jones then hits a jumper to make it 53-52 and Smith hit a pair of free throws with :19 to play to make it 55-52. Alex Robles, who was 6-for-7 from 3-point range on the night, hit a 3-pointer with 4.55 seconds to play to tie the game at 55-55 and send it to overtime.

Both teams traded baskets and McMurry led 60-59, when Rob Yeatts hit a lay-up and was fouled to give HSU the lead at the 1:31 mark and his free throw made it 62-60. Alex Robles then was fouled before he could get off a 3-pointer and made both free throws to knot the game at 62-62. Rian Stubbs missed a 3-pointer at the buzzer for HSU.

The Cowboys took control of the third overtime scoring the first seven points, five coming by Smith including a long 3-pointer as the shot clock was running down.HSU led 74-69 with :23 to play and Robles came down and hit another 3-pointer for McMurry. Dan Jean got a layup with :07 to play.

The HSU clock operator did not start the clock after the inbounds and McMurry went down and Dewayne Hall hit a 3-pointer. For some reason, the officials put 10 seconds back on the game clock, even though it should have been :03. There had been two possessions that had been inside of :10 seconds.

HSU inbounded to Steven Luckey, who hit both free throws and Robles missed a 3-pointer at the buzzer.

Marcus Smith had 22 points for the Cowboys and Mardochee Jean had 16 points, 14 rebounds and six blocked shots in 44 minutes of action. Rob Yeatts had 16 points and Rian Stubbs hauled down 11 rebounds.

Robles led McMurry with 25 points and Travis Tennison had his best game of the season with 14 points and 16 rebounds.

The win was the fourth straight for the Cowboys, who improved to 8-7 overall and 7-4 in ASC action. McMurry fell to 6-9 overall and 3-8 in ASC action. HSU plays at Texas Lutheran on Thursday.